Michael Carrick’s future at Old Trafford is at the centre of speculation after a poor run of eight matches without a win, culminating in a 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth. That has left the English giants just one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League. Manchester United have won only two of their 12 matches in all competitions this season, with seven points from eight league matches, marking the worst start to a season in 40 years. Nevertheless, former United and England midfielder Carrick, 45, remains in charge and is expected to hold a press conference on Thursday, ahead of Saturday’s match against Chelsea.
Gary Neville, former Manchester United captain, suggested on the “Stick to Football” podcast that the club’s hierarchy has intensively debated Carrick’s fate following the Bournemouth defeat, reaching a deadlock and deciding to stick with him due to a lack of planning and options. Neville added that “sometimes a manager needs to be sacked for his own good”, recalling his own experience at Valencia. Meanwhile, names such as Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann have been mentioned as possible replacements. Despite the situation, Carrick was applauded by fans after the match, while players were booed, indicating where supporters place the blame.
The sharp decline this season comes after an impressive revival under Carrick, who in May signed a two-year contract after securing third place in the Premier League and a return to the Champions League following difficulties with Ruben Amorim. Neville believes the root of United’s problems lies with the owners, the Glazer family, who took control in 2005 and sold a minority stake to Jim Ratcliffe in 2024. He calls for the full sale of the club, highlighting debt of £1.2 billion and 13-14 years of failure on the sporting side. “Enough is enough, they should sell the whole club,” Neville said.
Sourced from France 24 Live News